"Everything is on plan and on schedule for providing Airbus the employees it needs just in time. We don't want them running around twiddling their thumbs with no work, and the hiring will continue through the next year at least," said Lee Hammett, assistant director for the Alabama Industrial Development Training program.

Hammett said the $7 million project, which broke ground less than one year ago, is under budget, leaving a little breathing room should new equipment needs arise.

Mobile-based Watermark Design Group designed the multi-story AIDT training facility, and Rod Cooke Construction Inc., also based in Mobile, served as general contractor.

The facility includes six classrooms, five laboratories, general office space, a conference room, break room and an expansive shop floor where the majority of the hands-on, on-site training for the aerospace giant's first final assembly line on U.S. soil is expected to take place.

The labs, Hammett said, will focus primarily on electrical, composite, paint, welding and assembly operations and are designed flexibly to encourage free exchange with the adjoining shop floor.

Although a formal grand opening ceremony is not slated until June 24, Hammett said AIDT is currently coordinating pre-employment assessments "to get our workforce in place and identify any gaps or lacking skills, so we can expand training as needed."

Among the six classrooms are two computer labs, dedicated primarily to software training, but Hammett said they could ultimately support CAD and operations training as well.

"This facility is designed to be very flexible, very fluid, for both theoretical and hands-on operations. It's a planned, phased process, and right now, we're on target," Hammett said.

Click here for more on what to expect from the next Airbus hiring wave that Hammett said will happen within the next two weeks.

A companion piece to this story discussing hiring, training and expectation specifics will be posted to AL.com shortly.